Chatra: The unlawful activity of buying and selling forest lands has gone unabated in Jharkhand. After Deoghar and Giridih, the Chatra land scam has come into light where around 235 acres of forest land has been sold through illegal settlement using fake documents.

The land under Hesaparam forest area has an estimated value of Rs 4 crores. It was allegedly sold by Basudev Rai resident of Hesapuram village, Ramcharan Pandey resident of Peltaul Kala, Baldev Pandey and Bhuvneshwar Pandey of Simeria region, who claim it as their ancestral land.

Expressing objection over the land deal the Hesapuram Forest Committee apprised Forest Department officials about the transaction. The Eastern Division Forest Officer, Jai Prakash Kesari informed that the department will soon take action against the guilty after complete investigation.

The series of selling forest land began in 1996. The then Forest Division Officer, YK Das prohibited the activity by putting forest pillars on the land. After his transfer the illegal sale and purchase of land once again began in the state. JPN/Bureau